Separable fastener locking member



Feb. 23, 1932. U b 1,846,919

SEPARABLE FASTENER LOCKING MEMBER Filed Aug. 2, "1926 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY @5800 sz/ndback BY Feb.'2 3, 1932. G. SUNDBACK -SEPARABLE FASTENER LOCKING MEMBER Filed Aug. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u I ""llllllll /lll egg} 2.?

INVENTOR 14 200 jlmdback Wa-In/GIJ ATTORNEY k 2 3 8 m 3 fiwmw 7 3 5 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 GIDEON SUNDBACK,. F MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HOOKLESS FASTENEB COMPANY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- sYLvama em i '=: FASTENER LOCKING MEMBER Application filed August 2, 1926. Serial No.- 126,539.

This invention relates to separable fasteners and has reference to improvements upon the looking orjaw members shown in my prior application S. N. 7 35,574, filed Sept. 3,

1924, for Wire separable fastener, of which this application is a continuation in part. The object of the invention is to increase the strength and holding power of such members at the bend inasmuch as for some-uses it is found that jaw members made of bent wire of uniform cross section have insufficient material at the bend to supply the desired stiffness of bend to hold on the tape, and also insufficient material at the bend to enable interthe desired configuration locking surfaces of to be formed from the and holding power material available.

According to this invention, a jaw member is formed up by die operations from intermediately thickened straight material ready for compression upon'the tape. Thereby the expense of rolling wire to a special channel shape, as in my Patent #1,467,015, dated Sept. 4, 1923, for Method and machine for making fasteners, annealing, etc., is avoided and maximum strength and other advantages secured at a minimum cost. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows one form of fastener member made according to this invention mounted on A a tape with some of the members engaged and some disengaged.

Fig. 2 is a wire blank for making the locking members of Fig. l. J

Fig.- 3 shows the blank of Flg. 2 after bemg partiall formed. I

Fig. 4 shows the finished locking member clamped on a cord.

Fig; 5 is a side view of the device of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a wire blank for another form of locking member.

Fig. 7 shows the blank of Fig. formed into a locking member.

Fig. 8 illustrates the completed locking member clamped into position on a cord.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the device of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan view of another. form of locking member.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the device of Fig. 10.

6 partially 12 shows the blank from which the locking members of Figs. 10' and 11 are formed.

.Fig. 17 illustrates yet another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 18 shows the locking members of Fig. 17 mounted on stringers.

- Fig. 19 illustrates a modification in which the locking members on one stringer differ from those on the opposite.

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 20a20a of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 illustrates locking members of the form shown in Fig. 19, but arranged in a. different manner on the stringers.

Fig. 22 shows the locking member of Fig. 19 partially formed.

Fig. 23 shows the device of Fig. 22 clamped on a cord.

Fig. 24 is a side view of the device of Fig. 23. a

Fig. 25 represents the recess member of Fig. 19 partially formed.

Fig. 26 illustrates the partially formed blank from which the recess member is made.

Fig. 27 is a top plan view of the blank in Fig. 26. 1

Fig. 28 shows the completed locking member clamped on a cord.

4 Fig. 29 illustrates the completed locking member of Figs. 30 to 34 clamped on a cord.

Fig. 30 is a section on the line 30a- 30a of Fig. 29.

Fig. 31 shows a blank from which this locking member is formed.

Fig. 32 is a front view of the blank of Fig. 31.

Fig. 33 is a side View of the locking member of Fig. 29 without showing the stringer.

Fig 34 shows the locking members of Figs. 29 to'33 mounted on stringers.

Fig. 35 shows a modified form of the locking members of Figs. 29 to 34.

Fig. 36 shows one way of attaching the jaws to the stringers.

Fig. 37 shows a modification having interlocking portions of Figs. 10 and 11 and the overlapping jaws of Figs. 17, 18 etc.

' Fig. 38 shows a side view of the device of Fig. 37.

The locking members in Figs. 1 to 9 are shown in assembled and engaged position in Fig. 1 in which the slider 1 controls the engagement and disengagement of the projection members 2 with the recess members 3 mounted on the opposite stringer. The stringers in this invention may be made in the general form, but as illustrated in Fig. 1, the fabric is passed around the corded edge 4 completely enclosing the same either before or 'after the locking members 2 and 3 have been attached but preferably the latter as shown in Fig. 36. To form the projection members 2 a wire blank 5 has its outer ends reduced in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2, its intermediate portions 6 being of larger cross section while the central portion 7 is of still larger cross sectional area and thickness. The outer ends of this member may be about half the diameter of the central portion 7. The free ends 8 are bent to form jaw members, as shown in Fig. 3 and the intermediate portions 6 are also bent double about thelarger central portion 7, as shown in Fig. 3, with the two intermediate portions 6 lying close together or abutting. To clamp the locking member on a stringer the ends of the jaws are passed behind the corded edge and the ends 8 of the jaws then further bent to overlap, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thus forming two substantially 90 bends as best illustrated in Fig. 4. The shape of the central portion 7 during the bending operation will be formed as desired and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 without any additional deforming operations thus providing the enlarged knob which forms the interlocking portion-of the locking member and functions as a hook or projection to engage the recess of the opposite members, as shown in Fig. 1. To form the recess member the blank of Fig. 6 has reduced end portions and an enlarged central portion 9 which is bent to the form shown in Fig. 7, but preferably the free ends 10 of the jaws are not bent back as shown in Fig. 7 before being passed through the fabric, just as in the case of the jaws of the projection members shown in Figs. 2 to 5. After passing behind the corded edge the jaws are overlapped and the ends bent over, as shown in Fig. 8 so as to prevent any undue bulge of the corded edge into the recess 11. The ends of the recess member shown in Fig. 8 thus have two substantially 90 bends, just as in Fig. 4, and also the additional bend which prevents the corded edge of the stringer from bulging against the central locking portion 9. The reduced cross-section of the free ends 8 in Fig. 3 and the corresponding ends in Fig. 6 permits these ends 'to be wrapped around the corded edge of the stringer without increasing the over-all dimensions of the locking members on the stringer, that is, without extending the overlapped ends beyond the space occupied by the central locking' portion 7 or 9, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. I

In Fig. 12 the blank is provided with a thickened central portion 12 and ends 13 which are also enlarged at the tips. This blank is a round wire as are the blanks in Figs. 2 and 6. To form the jaw portions the blank is flattened and reduced at 14, as shown in Fig. 13. This provides the clamping portion of the jaws and forms shoulders 15 when bent into U .form, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the shoulders serving as stops to prevent bulge of the corded edge into the interlocking portion and thereby enabling the locking members to be firmly engaged when appropriately mounted on stringers.-

The ends of the jaws are bent as shown in Fig. 10 to firmly embrace the corded edge. The interlocking portion of the locking memher is thickened and deformed at the bend to provide projections 16 as shown in Fig: 11, each projection'having an interlocking surface on the inner side, that is the side adjacent the corded edge, and a guiding surface on the outer side to facilitate engagement as do the other embodiments. In Figs. 10 and 11 the cross section of the bend is in arrowhead shape with two interlocking and two guiding surfaces. The interlocking portion is also recessed to form a socket 17 between the projection and corded edge in which an opposite locking member may be received and held by the inner inclined interlocking surfaces, as shown in Fig. 15. The shoulders 15 not only serve as stop surfaces for the corded edge to prevent the edge from bulging into the socket 17 when clamped but also limit the depth of reception of the projection of an opposite locking member within the socket. The thickened central portion 12 being of increased cross sectional area provides enough metal after the interlocking projection and socket portions'have been formed to increase the holding power of the interlocking portions and also increase the strength of the jaws and decrease their tendency to spread just as the larger cross section area centrally in the locking members of Figs 2 to 9 inclusive increases the resistence to spreading.

In Figs. 16 to 18 the locking members have interlocking portions shaped somewhat like the projections and socket portions of Figs. 10 and 11, except that one projection is larger than the opposite. The blank from' which this locking member is formed is like that of Fig. 12 in the central portion III ' vent bulge of the corded edge into the recess or socket portion. Having the jaws of reducedthickness and ofthe'cross sectional shape illustrated permits a slight bulge in. the corded edge 19 between the top and bottom halves of-theljaws thus making the clamping action more secure and with less likelihood of longitudinal displacement of the looking memberon the stringer. Hav ing the jaws flattened. asillustrated, does not increase the dimension of the locking mem ber longitudinally of the stringer and does not lessen the spacing between the locking. members or affect flexibility of the fastener.

If desired jaws of the-shape shown in Figs. 16 to 1-8 may be provided with interlocking portions of other shapes asis true of the other embodiments of this invention.

In Fig. 19 is shown a construction with looking members 23 on one side which are provided with hook or projecting portions 24 and thus locking members 22 on the opposite side are provided with recess portions 25. In Fig. 20 is shown the manner of se-j curing these locking members to the tape.

Fig. 21 illustrates a modified arrangement of the locking members 22 and 23 with the I -recess=-and projection members secured contiguous one another on the same stringer with suitable spacing between the pairs of members so that engagement may be in the manner illustrated. In Fig. 21 the flexibility takes place between the pairs and not between the contiguous locking. members of each pair. Figs. 22, 23 and 24 indicate the manner of securing the. projection lockingv members 23 to the stringer which is the same as was done in Figs. 2'to 5 inclusive. The projection portion 24 isof the shape illustrated, jaws 26 being reduced in thickness to about half their former size so that the overlapping jaw portions do not substantially increase the dimension of the locking member longitudinally of. the stringer and therefore do not interfere with the flexibility of the fastener. In Figs. 25 to 28 is shown the manner of forming the recess portion. This locking member is secured to the stringer in the same manner as the projection portion."

The ends of the overlapping jaws are bent over as shownin Fig.28 to prevent the corded edge tape from bulging into the recess portion 25. i

In Figs. 29 to 34 is shown a further construction in which the locking members are tape.

the same onboth sides of the stringer, as shown in Fig. 34. In each of the various con- 1 structions illustrated the locking members 27 V are made of round wire 28 cutto lengths as shown in Figs. 31 and 32 and the central portion 29 flattened t0 anelliptical shape illustrated in Figs. 30,32'and 33. To better enable the jaw portions to overlap they preferably extend in different planes from the flattened centralportion 29 which forms the interlocking part- 30 of the member. As shown in Fig. 29, the ends of the jaws prevent bulge of the corded edge into the recess. Having the jaws connected to the interlocking portions in difierent planes" facilitates overlapping in the manner illustrated in Figs. 29 to 32.

In Fig. 35 is shown a locking member of the same type shown in Figs. 29 to 34 inclusive, with the exception that the jaws instead of overlapping closely are spread apart as greater length illustrated at 32 to occup along the stringer and to a rd more oppor tunity for a bulge in the stringer between the spread portions of thejaws whereby a more secure grip is provided and the complete fastener stiffer.

In Fig. 36 is illustrated the preferred manner of attaching locking members having the overlapping jaws on to the tape. One way is'to pass the jaws through the fabric behind the corded edge, but as illustrated the preferredmanner is to first clamp the lockin members on the cord 33 of the stringer an then secure the fabric 34 over the locking jecting out of the fabric. From Fig. 36 it will be seen that a portion of-the fabric is the fabric. If excessive wear and stresses are to be encountered the locking members have their jaws overlapped after passing through thefabric and behind the corded edge.

Figs. 37 and38 are the preferred form of this inventionin which the jaws are overlapping and' provided with the intermediately thickened interlocking portion of Figs. 10 and 11 at the bend.

Among the advantages of this invention may be enumerated the increased holding power resulting from having the jaw blank thickened at the bend. Another result from the same structure is increased stiffness in the jaws to aid in holding the jaw member on the The stiffness is increased for a given section by compression and hardening of the material duringbending. The straight wire blank is cheaper than the use of any special jmembers with the interlocking portions prochannel shaped wire, as an ordinary thiekened wire does not require the rolling or an- -qu1red size.

duction of the special Y shape cross sections. Having the jaws overlap increases the holding power vto the tape and lessens any possibility of the jaws spreading under crosswise stress on the material. When the jaws are flattened this increased holding power is ob tained without forsaking flexibility in the fastener, and reducing the thickness of the jaws longitudinally of the tape also lessens their tendency. to spread and increases their stiffness. If the jaws are overlapped on instead of under the fabric around the corded edge a metal slider track results to provide better wear. The step of intermediately thickening the blanks is performed preferably by rolling or pressing the ends to the desired size but this may be performed by upsetting the intermediate portion to the re- I claim:

1. A separable fastener 'locking member formed from a strip of'materialhaving a varying cross-section which is bent upon itsself to provide spaced arms adapted to extend on opposite sides and overlapping each other around the edge of a fastener stringer, the largest cross-section being at the bend and providing a strong interlocking portion.

2. A separable fastener locking member formed from a strip of material .of varying cross-section which is bent upon itself to provide a central portion of relatively large cross-section at the bend and shaped to form an interlocking means adapted to cooperate with interlocking portions of other locking members, and spaced arms extending from said interlocking portion and sufficiently smaller in cross-section to permit them to be overlapped around a cord without having a longitudinal extent greater than said central interlocking portion.

3. A separable fastener locking member formed from a wire which is bent upon itself to provide spaced end portions of relatively small cross-section forming clamping jaws, intermediate connecting portions of larger cross-section than said clamping jaws, and an interlocking portion at the bend of sub stantially larger cross-section than sai d intermediate portions and formed in the bent material.

4. A separable fastener locking member formed from wire bent upon itself to provide a central portion of relatively large c ros'ssectional area at the bend which is shaped to provide interlocking means for engagement with other locking members, connecting p er t-ions extending from said interlocking portion each of smaller cross-sectional area than said interlocking portion, and lying close together adjacent said bend but spaced apart adjacent their ends, said ends being long enough to overlap each other when bent around the corded edge of a stringer.

5. In a separable fastener, a flexible stringing free from the stringer,

er, a wire locking meniber formed by bending a strip of wire upon itself to provide an interlocking portion arranged intermediate the ends of the wire, said ends extending over the edge of said stringer and being about half the extent longitudinally of the stringer as the section of said wire adjacent the interlocking portion.

6. In a fastener, a flexible stringer provided with a beaded edge, locking members secured to said stringer, each locking member having an interlocking portion spaced from the beaded. edge of said stringer, and a pair of arms extending in transversely spaced relation from said interlocking portion directly over opposite sides of said beaded edge, each of said arms being bent around the beaded edge and forwardly to overlap with the opposite arm, and at least partially in front of said beaded edge to maintain said stringer in fixed relation to the interlocking portion. I

7. A separable fastener locking member formed from a wire which is bent upon itself.

to provide side arms for engaging opposite sides of a stringer, said member at the bend being of substantially larger cross-section than the connecting arms, and the bent material shaped to provide interlocking means for engagement with interlocking meansof cooperating locking'members.

8. In a separable fastener, a flexible stringer, a locking member carried by the stringer formed from a wire which is bent to provide oppositely disposed ends bent around the stringer and a bent portion projectsaid bent portion being substantially elliptical in cross section with its largest dimension extending longitudinally of the'stringer.

9. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of a stringer and a fastener element having a pair of arms embracing the stringer therebetween and said arms having the outer ends overlapped and folded around successive portions of the rear edge of the stringer.

10. In a fastener of the class described, the combination of a stringer, a fastener element having a pair of spaced arms embracing the stringerand said arms having the outer ends overlapped in superposed relation lengthwise of and at the outer edge of the stringer for spacing the elements.

11. The method of-mounting a fastener element on a stringer which comprises interposing a stringer between a pair of projecting arms on the fastener element and folding the ends of the arms 'aroundtheremote portions.

of the stringer in overlapping superposed relation lengthwise of the stringer.

Signed at Meadvill-e, in the county of Crawford and State ofPennsylvania, this 28th day of July, A. D'. 1926.

GIDEON SUN DBAGK." 

